Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1887-03-24


down Hennicker's ranch out Of spite, but tho
judge here stepped IN and stopped that"
at was really highhanded proceeding,
Josephine, but managed to check it." said
Hale, meeting somewhat consciously the first
direct look his wife had cast upon him, and
falling back for support ON his old manner
"In its way, think it was worse than the
robbery by Lee and Falkner for it was done
in the name Of law and order; while as
far as can judge from the facts, the affair
that we were following up was simply rude
and irregular restitution of property that
had been morally stolen"
II have no doubt you did quite right,
though don't understand il, said Mrs. Hale,
languidly; "but l trust these gentlemen will
stay to luncheon, and in the meantime excuse
us for RUNNING away, as wc are short of
servants, and Manuel seems to have followed
the example of the head of the house and left
us, in pursuit. of somebody or something"
When the three women had gained the
vantage ground of the drawing room, Kate
said, earnestly, las it's all right, hadn't we
better tell him now?"
Decidedly not, child, said Mrs Scott, inn
peratively. "po you suppose they are in
hurry TO tell us their whole storya Who are
those Hennicker peoplei and they We're there
a week ago!"
"And did you notice Johns hat when he
came in, and tho vulgar familiarity of calling
him 'judgef" said Mrs. Hale.
"Well, certainly anything like the familiar
ity of this man Clinch | never saw" said
Kate. Contrast his manner with Mr.. Falk-
ner's.n
AZ Irr0ha0,, ha fhroo cuff o-&,.,-
finally succeeded in reducing Hale and his
two friends to an attitude of vague apology.
But their triumph was short lived. At the end
of the meal they were startled by the tramp
ling of hoofs without, followed by loud
knocking In another moment the door
was opened and Mr. Stanner strobe into the
room. Hale rose with a look of indignation.
II thought, as Mr.. Stanner understood that
had no desire for his company elsewhere, he
would hardly venture to intrude upon me in
my house, and certainly not sfter"-
"Ef you're abiding to the Vigilantes shalxin'
you and Zeenie up at Hennicker's, you can't
make me responsible for that Tim here now
on business-you understand-reg'lar bust
ness. Ef you want to see the papers yer ken
l suppose you know what O warrant is!"
al know what you are," said Hale hotly,
y
STEADY, boys" interrupted Stanner as his
five henchmen filed into the hall "There's
no backin' down here, Col. Ciinch, unless you
and Hale kalkilate to back down the state of
Californyl The matter stands like this:
There's halfbreed Mexican, called Manuel
arrested over at the Summit, who swears he
saw George Lee and Edward Falkner in this
house the night after the robbery He says
that they were maxim themselves at home
hero, as if they were among friends, and
considerin' the kind of help we've had from
Mr.. John Hale, it looks ez il it might be true"
ats an infamous lie" said Hale
''It may be true, john" said Mrs. Scott,
suddenly stepping in front of her pale
checked daughters. "A wounded man was
brought here out of the storm by his friend,
who claimed the shelter of your roof. AS
your mother should have been unworthy to
stay beneath it and have denied that shelter
or withheld it until / knew his neme and
what he was. lie stayed here until he could
be removed. He left letter Cor you It will
probably tell you il he was sle man this per-
son is seeking"
THANK you, mother" said Hale, lifting
her hand TO his lips quietly; "and perhaps
you win kindly tell these gentleman that, as
your son does not care TO know who or what
the stranger was, there is no necessity for
opening the letter or keeping Mr.. Stanner
moment longer"
"But you will oblige me, John, by opening
It before these gentlemen" said Mrs Hale,
recovering her voice and color. please to
follow me-" she said, preceding them to the
staircase.
They entered Mr.. Hale's room, now re-
stored to its original condition. On the table
lay letter and small package. The eyes
of Mr.. Stanner, little abashed By the atti-
tude Of the two women, fastened upon it and
glistened.
Josephine handed her husband the letter.
He opened it in breathleSs silence and read:
1John Hale:
"We owe you no return for voluntarily
making yourself champion Of justice and
pursuing us. except it was to offer you fair
field and no favor. We didn't get that much
from you, but accident brought us into your
house and into your family, where we did
get it and were fairly vanquished To the
victors belong the spoils. We leave the pack
age of greenbacks which we took from Col
Clinch in the Sierra coach, but which was
first stolen by Harkins from forty-fonr share
holders of the Excelsior Ditch. We have no
right to say what you should do with il, but
If you aren't tired of following the same limo
of justice that induced you to run after us
you will try to restore it to its rightful own
ers.
ave leave you another trifla as an evidence
that our intrusion into your affairs was not
without some service to you, even IL tie SER
vice was as accidental as the intrusion You
will find a pair of boots i'll the corner Of your
closet. They were taken from the burglari-
Gus feet of Manuel, your peon, who. believ-
ing the three ladies were alone and at his
mercy, entered your house ~ith an accom-
plice at 2 O'Clock on the morning of the 21st,
and was kicked out by
"Your obedient servants,
"GEoRGE LEE {: EDWARD FALKNER."
Hale's voice and color changed on reading
this last paragraph. He turned quickly
toward his wife; Kate flew to the closet,
where the muffied boots of Manuel confronted
them. ave never knew it. l always sus-
pected something that night" said Mrs. Hale
and Mrs. Scott in the same breath.
"That's all very we'll and like George Lees
high falutin'," said Stanner, approaching the
table, "but as long ez the greenbacks are
here he can make what capital he likes outer
Manuel I'll trouble yon to pass over that
package"
Excuse me-" said Hale, "but l believe this
is the package taken from Col Clinch. Is it
not3" he added, appealing to the colonel.
1T is" said Clinch.
"Then take it," said Hale, handing him the
package. The first restitution is to you, but
believe you will fulfill Lees instructions as
well es myself"
"But," said Stanner, fu-iously ipterposing,
"Pve warrant to seize that wherever found,
and dare you to disobey the law"
"Mr Stanner," said Clinch, slowly, "there
are ladies present IL you insist upon having
that package / must ask them to withdraw,
and I'm afraid you'll find me better prepared
to resist a second robbery than was the first
Your warrant, which was taken out by the
express company, is supplanted by civil pro-
ceedings taken tho day before yesterday
against the property Of the fugitive swindler
Harkinsl You should have consulted the
sheriff before you came here"
Stanner saw his mistake. But in the faces
of his grinning followers he was Obliged to
Il. n -H.~1N